Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-09-20
COMMUNICATED.
wouni Vernon Avenue.

MANY q scheme projected for public conVe-
pience and general improvement althoughin
thomain practicable eandcommendingi itselfto
nopular favor utterly fails ofsuccess because
oft the fatally extravagant ideas of its pro
iec.ors. May il not be so with the scheme
in which we are all so much interested just
now. of laying out and constructing high
,yav from the national capital TO the nome
and ehrine of General Washington. An
avenue to connect these TWO historic places
should be one of no insignificant dlmen
siops. but one broad enough ter command
ing display as we'll a. 10 amply accommo'
date the diverse and frequent travel Wnlch
it would at all times insure. But to start
out with the proposition tnat it should be
two hundred feet wide is simply absurd, at
least SO it seems to the writer.
Let us consider the matter. In the hrst
nlsce certain concessions are 20 be obtained
Of all property holders through whom the
road is to be projected All lands are to be
appraised at fair valuation and payment
therefor made to the owners. For way OF
such dimensions as have been proposed Tor
it. twelve acres of land would be required for
every mile of construction. Where land Is
rated at from forty to fifty dollars per acre
only, the cost of the right of way Will not
be so great, but where ore or two thousand
dollars will be demanded for suburban acres
the concessions will grow into large items OF
expense. In width Of TWO hundred feet
we suppose the design is to park fifty feet
on each side. This would ieaye one hun
dred feet for actual road Or driving way,
space even wider than the drive way OF
PENNSYLVANIA avenue and sufficiently ample |
TO admit OF the movement of . dozen car |
riages abreast. And such road, even
With the great natural advantages, |
which are afforded for its construction both |
by the easy gradients Of the grounds enc |
the convenience OF many Of the needed !na
terials such as houiders and cobble stones
for deep bedding, and gravel aud sand for |
cement finish, the cost would not be less
than fifty thousand dollar5 per mile exclu- |
sive of the TWO bridges over Great and Lit.
tie Hunting Greeks. These structures if in |,
keeping with all the other magnificent de-
signs, and if built Of iron on enduring foun-
dations, would add 10 each mile an addi-
tona cost of ten thousand dollsrs. So that
the avenue when finished and reGdg for
travel would represent an expenditure OF
nearly one million Of dollars or more, but
not Inclusive Of parking and other adorn.
ments Now, uness the general and Siste
governments could ua induced to make very
munifcent appropriations to assist 10 the
proposed undertaking the work would pro-
baby be forbidding ore tc any incorpo- |
rated company But narrow the proposed
dimensions down to one half-make the &C.
tual roadway fifty feet in width, with twen
five feet on each side for parking, statua- |
ry and other accessories Cor recommendation,
which would proportionalely diminish the
cost, then, we think, people generally would
be disposed 10 look upon il as entirely prac
ticable and that the necessary energies and
means could be readily found to make the
scheme success. The foregoing remarks
have not been prompted by any cspticus
spirit but only through wish that in all
the preliminary movements which are now
being made by our people The best Judgment
and the mosJ praelicati= considerations may
determine their action The enterprise is
one of great momcut and dcn': wish 10 see
its success imperiled by any false or unwar.
lanted step in It's Inception. Aud while |
would deprecate a!i extravsgart IDEAS OF
construction, would not feel satisfied 10
have the seutimeuto Of oui people ocquascing
in & cheap roao, or ans other than oae
which would be credit to the emagnauimity
of great and prosperous nation, ard fit
ting memorial 10 the great chief whom wo
all love TO honor and revere.
". IL. SNowDEN.